In some cases, there are some upper-end Gen 2+ tubes that can outperform a Gen 3.
This is not one of those cases.
The PS28-3P is one of the best Gen 3 night vision scopes available.
Technically speaking, it’s not a scope but a clip-on.
Yes, you’ll pay more for this model than its scope equivalent, but if you’re in the market for a forward-mounted clip-on, this is where the buck stops.
Update: Unfortunately ATN Corp have discontinued the PS28-3P clip on scope. Check out the current line of ATN Night Vision devices here, alternatively, you can find more of our Gen 3 night vision scope reviews here.
Quick Overview...
What We Like: Gen 3P IIT
What We Don’t Like: Sloppy rail mount
Best Uses: Night Shooting, Tactical Use, Hunting, Scouting, Varmint Control, Law Enforcement, Professional Use, Close to Mid-Range Detection
- IIT: Gen 3
- Magnification: 1x
- FOV: 13-degrees
- Resolution: 64-72 lp/mm
- Eye Relief: N/A
- Color Modes: Green Phosphor
- Battery: 50 hours
- Dimensions: 7.7 x 3.5 x 3”/1.85 lbs
Our Verdict: The PS28-3P is one of the best night vision scopes from ATN. It has a pinnacle tube that offers autogating with a thin ion barrier film. This is the best of the best of Gen 3. If there’s a night vision attachment you want to pair with your day scope for ultimate performance regardless of the application, it’s this one.
Who is the ATN PS28-3P Clip-On Best Suited to?
Obviously, the PS28 series of scopes is best suited to those who can afford it. While it’s obvious that it’s good enough for professional applications in military, law enforcement, and security, it’s also an excellent scope for hog hunters and SHTF preppers.
If you dont have the budget you might like to take a look at the ATN PS28-3 to see if its more in line with what you are after.
Clip-ons are generally more expensive than standalone night vision scopes. They must be collimated to work with any day optic that sits behind it. The PS28-3P is best suited to those who specifically need a clip-on to either move the unit between multiple weapon systems or for those who strictly want to use their day scope with the benefit of adding night vision.
How Does the ATN PS28-3P Clip-On Perform?
The PS28-3P is one of ATN’s better night vision devices. It’s a genuine, analog night vision clip-on with the best technology of what Gen 3 can offer – pinnacle/autogating technology. This is the type of night vision that the military uses and that is often coveted by those who have lesser quality night vision.
The passive performance without IR illumination is impressive and should be so for such an expensive NVD. Even so, a more a powerful illuminator can provide extended range performance.
The PS28 is designed to be a clip-on, so it does not feature its own reticle or elevation/windage turrets. It’s a forward mounting scope and goes in front of a day optic. If properly mounted within 3 mm of both the optical axis of the day scope and clip-on, there will be no shift in your point of impact.
It’s compact and short at 7.7” long and reasonably lightweight at 1.85 lbs. With a clip-on on your rail, you can have instant night vision through your day scope. With quality like this, there’s little to no compromise in imaging. This is the type of clip-on and quality you want if you’re going to splurge.
Features & Benefits
Gen 3P IIT
This isn’t your typical night vision clip-on since it’s Gen 3 – the gold standard for night vision and military applications. This PS28 has a pinnacle, thin filmed, autogated IIT that makes it the crème de la crème of night vision.
What is pinnacle/autogating? Gen 3P or Gen 3AG IITs have a thin-filmed ion barrier that improves optic durability and performance. With this type of technology, this class of scope can handle excessive bright light conditions that would cause either a halo effect or automatic shutdown to protect the IIT. When most scopes would shut-off, an autogated IIT keeps plugging on with optimal performance around streetlights, car lights, urban areas, and the like.
While this type of night vision quality is used by the U.S. Army, it’s also available to U.S. civilians. While you may not be employing it for professional use, although it’s capable of professional employment, there are a variety of useful applications for such a device. Security-minded families, hunters, preppers, and more will appreciate the high quality and clarity offered from one of the best night vision clip-ons worth buying.
Excellent Imaging Quality
It comes as an expectation that the best night vision scopes will have superior imaging quality. This is true of the PS28-3P. It has high resolution of 64-72 lp/mm and a high SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) of 24-30. This means that it will provide sharpness, clarity, and contrast like you’ve never before seen if you’re accustomed to lower generation night vision.
How good is its detection? Most of ATN night vision scopes are excellent for sub-200 yard performance. The identification range is between 75-100 yards – and this is for telling the difference between a female and male, recognizing who and what is within view, etc. With a more powerful IR illuminator, you can extend identification ranges beyond 400 yards with maximum clarity.
Night Vision Clip-On
The PS28 series of clip-ons are available with various generational tubes. The Gen 3P is one of the most expensive which is second to the filmless Gen 4 model that ranks in as the priciest of the lot.
As a clip-on, it’s designed to be forward mounted in front of a magnified optic such as a Trijicon ACOG or a traditional daytime scope. It comes with a single-lever quick detach mount for fast, convenient mounting.
You can keep on using the familiar adjustable options on your daytime scope, reticle, adjustments, and magnification. The PS28 works best with optics within the 2.5-8x magnification range. While the clip-on doesn’t require you to rezero your scope’s original zero, you should still confirm that you have it. The clip-on is factory-collimated to provide accurate results within ½ MOA or better.
Tough
For a night vision scope this pricey, you should demand ultimate durability. The PS28-3P is tough and weatherproof. It’s MIL-STD-810G rated to handle shock, and it’s completely waterproof and fogproof. It can be submersed for up to 10 m for 30 minutes and the nitrogen gas protects your optic from internal fogging.
But even though it’s an expensive NVD and designed to handle weather, a night vision scope still has a difficult time seeing through fog, sleet, snow, rain, and smoke – it’s the nature of the optical technology.
Limitations
Sloppy Rail Mount
The included QRM is a quick release mount that is designed for fast attachment and dismounting to and from a mil-spec Picatinny rail. It does not fit Weaver rails. However, ATN does not guarantee QRM quality and performance. For some, the mount holds up, but for most, the mount has some play and is described to be sloppy.
There are other mounting options available that includes a mount fitted for a Weaver rail, but these are only available as a separate purchase.
Don’t buy this clip-on scope if you’re not willing to upgrade and replace the included mount with a higher quality one if it needs it.
Popular Questions
ATN does not provide recoil resistance for the PS28 series of clip-on scopes. However, most clip-ons are only recoil rated up to a .308 Win at max.
The PS28 can be directly mounted to the objective bell of a daytime scope. The daytime scope must not have an adjustable objective (AO) to have this mounting capability. However, the adapters needed to achieve clip-on-to-scope mounting must be purchased separately from ATN.
There may be some confusion that the PS28 Gen 3 clip-on can be used during the day as it can handle excessive bright light conditions and it may be advertised as a Day/Night Multi-Purpose Viewer. This is analog night vision, and it is not compatible for use during the day.
The PS28-3P front sight comes with an objective lens cap and quick release mount. A light suppressor, remote control, and 123A lithium battery are included. The IR850-B1 IR Illuminator Kit, operating manual, and hardshell storage case will also be included in the box.
The PS28 series is covered with a 2-year warranty by ATN. Unfortunately, many have the opinion that for the price of the analog NVD, it should come with a better warranty. However, this type of coverage and warranty term is within the industry standard for most electro-optics manufacturers.
Conclusion
It’s tough to spend a hefty amount of cash on a night vision scope this expensive. But when you must have the best imaging quality possible in the toughest seeing conditions, i.e., nighttime, then you need the best optic that does the job.
Gen 3 is the gold standard, and it doesn’t matter if you’re using it for work or simply need night vision for coyote hunting. The results are the same – excellent Gen 3 performance. Night workers and night hunters need it. The PS28-3P does the job plus some.
Update: Unfortunately ATN Corp have discontinued the PS28-3P clip on scope. Check out the current line of ATN Night Vision devices here, alternatively, you can find more of our Gen 3 night vision scope reviews here.
Further Reading
